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Sick Dog? Easy to Digest Dog Food Guide

The “Easy to Digest” Diet and Dog Diarrhea

If your dog already tends to have a sensitive stomach that easily reacts to changes in the diet, a bland diet may be a good change of pace for your furry friend. An easy-to-digest diet will allow your dog’s stomach to rest easy and enjoy a lighter workload for some time.

In other cases, the best time to include easy-to-digest foods in your dog’s diet is when they are sick. If they have vomiting or diarrhea, easy-to-digest meals can help your dog heal faster. After the onset of vomiting or diarrhea, allow the dog to fast for at least six hours. Adult dogs can fast for up to 24 hours, and puppies can fast for up to six hours. During this time, you can offer your dog only water. Thereafter, slowly introduce a bland food diet to your dog. For small dogs, you can start one teaspoon at a time.

Why Your Dog’s Stomach May Be Upset

In the case that your dog is either vomiting or has diarrhea it is important to find the cause. Identification of the original cause can aid in prevention in the future. Your dog’s stomach may be having issues for a number of reasons including:

Your dog ate disagreeable “food” (i.e. trash, a new type of dog food, food not made for a dog’s stomach)

Your dog ate too much food, too fast

Often identified by vomit beginning soon after eating

Your dog ingested a toxic substance

How Long to Use the Easily Digestible Diet

Easy-to-digest meals are not meant for long-term use. They can serve their purpose across a short period of time, but do not provide all of the nutrients your dog needs to thrive. After no more than a few days, begin to incorporate some of your dog’s normal food to make sure the dog’s stomach has healed. If the dog has trouble holding down water or food for more than 12 hours, offer your dog some of the liquid recommendations below. If it appears something is wrong with the dog, take it to the vet in case an illness or disease has set in.

The Easily Digestible Dog Diet for Dog Diarrhea

Simple foods with little flavor, no chemicals or preservatives are best to introduce to your dog. Any meat identified as being “boiled” should be brought to the boiling point then brought down to a simmer for about 25 minutes. Allow all food to cool before offering it to your dog.

Luckily, the majority of these easy-to-digest foods are readily available in your pantry cabinet’s. In this diet you can incorporate some of the following, as your dog’s stomach bounces back: